Once the lifeline of western UP, Hindon is just a toxic drain now (Issue of the week, July Week #3 (2015))Kehar Singh,70, sits atop a hillock in his village in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district, firm in the belief that the Hindon, “his river”, flows as usual through nearby ravines, as it used to three decades back.

MUMBAI: It is now mandatory for government schools to hold tree plantation drives on campus. Private schools will also have an option to undertake the programme.

"To ensure that school students are aware of forests, wild animals, biodiversity and are encouraged to protect these, it is important that tree plantations be carried out in schools are part of the annual festivals between
June 5 and August 31," said deputy secretary, Avinash Sable referring to the July 15 resolution.

PARIS: The effects of air pollution cost France some 100 billion euros (USD 110.1 billion) each year, a French Senate committee report estimated today, citing impact to health as the major expense.

The study said air pollution is not merely a health threat, but also represents "an economic aberration" costing the French state and businesses billions annually in treating illness, and financing employee sick leave, lost
productivity, reduced agriculture yields and cleaning up sooty buildings and other venues

VADODARA: If rainwater is not harvested properly, Vadodara is heading towards a serious drinking water problem.

The quality of groundwater in the city is fast deteriorating, a recent study by the Gujarat Ecological Society (GES) has revealed. The total dissolved solids, salinity and fluoride content in the city's water table is steadily
increasing, the study shows.

http://cmsenvis.cmsindia.org/resources/newspaper/details.asp?id=73236

UGC wants varsities to reduce animal usage for dissection (July Week #3 (2015))Varsities running courses in Life Sciences and Zoology and having facilities for animal dissection have been asked by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to register themselves with Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) to ensure
that rules are not violated

http://cmsenvis.cmsindia.org/resources/newspaper/details.asp?id=73251

Rare birds make Nashik their home (July Week #3 (2015))

NASHIK: The Gangapur Dam and its adjoining grasslands boasting of rich biodiversity attract a large variety of birds, both resident and migratory; and as such, the place has been identified as an important bird area by the Maharashtra Biodiversity Board.

During the bird census conducted by bird watchers from mid-June to mid-July at Gangapur dam, more than 20 grassland species were observed, including some extremely rare species like the Lesser Florican and the Slaty-breasted
rail.